"Foods" I Don't Miss

There are some foods I have given up that I don't miss any more. It is now a habit to NOT have them, where as it used to be a habit to have them.

Soda
Gum
Cheezits (The break room at work used to be stocked with these and I would eat cupful after cupful. I finally had to quit eating them completely)
Extra caffeinated coffee (I have one cup of regular coffee in the morning, after that I drink decaf, if I have any more)
Donuts
Fudgesicles
Hot Chocolate packets (I put real cocoa in my coffee in the morning, so it is like have a mocha everyday. If I really wanted a Hot Chocolate I would make it with real cocoa instead of the processed packets - those contain transfats!)
Coffee Creamer (I use powdered milk)
Popcorn (Did you know those bags of microwave popcorn contain transfats?)

101 in 1001

I stumbled upon someone with a 101 in 1001 list and I was immediately intrigued and decided to join in. I started my list a few days ago and I am now ready to stop trying to perfect and start completing it.

Beginning Date: July 1, 2007
Ending Date: March 28, 2010
Items Completed: 7 0f 101

Books, Movies, & Music
001. Get a library card
002. Have a Lord of the Rings Movie Marathon
003. Finish watching G.K. Chesterton DVDs
004. Watch Groundhog Day and eat flapjacks on Groundhog Day
005. Watch Season 5 of 24
006. Watch Season 6 of 24
007. Watch the Passion of the Christ on Good Friday
008. Read Pilgrim's Progress
009. Read the Chronicles of Narnia
010. Read the Imitation of Christ
011. Re-Read Beautiful in God's Eyes
012. Re-Read Streams in the Desert
013. Read Lord of the Flies to see why it was required reading in high school
014. Start (and finish) a book by G.K. Chesterton
015. Only listen to jazz for an entire week (excluding workout music)
016. Only listen to classical music for an entire week (excluding workout music)

Places to Visit and People & Things to See
017. Visit New York City
018. See Phantom of the Opera (preferably on Broadway)
019. Meet the man who repairs lawnmowers
020. Visit the Farmer's Market at least three times each summer (3 times in 2007)
021. Go to an outdoor concert
022. Take a scuba class (does not require completing or becoming certified)
023. Take granddaughter to the farm during harvest
024. Visit the farm during cotton harvest
025. Dress up in formal wear and go out with Sugar Pop on prom night
026. Play bingo
027. Go to the Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues
028. Go on an Alaskan cruise

Charitable
029. Use paid4u.com card thirty times
030. Volunteer at a soup kitchen
031. Donate 101 grocery sacks of stuff to Thrift Town (7/101)
032. Redesign Emmaus newsletter
033. Make coloring pages for Kairos
034. Participate in a walk for charity
035. Create a spot to keep and start gathering items for Honey's first apartment

Projects
036. Get a new job
037. Have mom's photos scanned
038. Create recipe book of mom's recipes
039. Create family information book for mom's side of the family
040. Glue completed puzzles together
041. Create slideshow of wedding photos
042. Create and keep a gratitude journal for at least one month
043. Make You Tube video of husband cutting up a watermelon
044. Scan Senior Pictures (completed in August 2007)
045. Scan photos of my brother for his 60th birthday (Completed 7/7/7)

Home & Finance
046. Get 2006 tax information to the accountant
047. Have tax information to the accountant by March 1st
048. Prepare a Will
049. Update CD inventory
050. Have the guest bathroom redone
051. Plant a bulb pot
052. Plant winter wheat in the fall
053. Clean new oven at least once each year
054. Trim hoya plants and pot "babies"
055. Recover dining room chairs
056. Take a defensive driving course to get the auto insurance discount
057. Get a safety deposit box
058. Organize husband's music business expenses
059. Create a real FlyLady control journal
060. Refer to above control journal daily for six months
061. Help Honey with daily routine during summer visit
062. Sell something on Ebay

Body
063. Have a foot detox spa
064. Rock wall climbing
065. Run in a 5K
066. Maintain average weight below 135 for 12 months in a row (2/12)
067. Reach body fat % below 23% (on Tanita scale)
068. Get a massage every month for six months in a row (3/6)
069. Run 30 minutes at 6.0 mph (completed 8/17/07)
070. Try on wedding dress on or near 10 year wedding anniversary
071. Still fit in wedding dress on or near 10 year wedding anniversary
072. Have my first mammogram
073. Order (and learn) a line dancing video
074. Try Weight Watchers Core Plan for one week
075. Have legs waxed
076. Don't check my weight for an entire month
077. Have sun damage on my forehead corrected
078. Use personal trainer appointments that came with my gym membership
079. Have a spa day

Food & Drink
080. Make homemade ice cream
081. Eat black-eyed peas on New Year's Day
082. Find 10 new "keeper" crock pot recipes
083. Give up Chocolate for Lent
084. Make snow ice cream
085. Make cream puffs for Honey
086. Make Frito pies on Halloween
087. Drink a $50 bottle of wine
088. Try raw milk
089. Bake a Flourless Chocolate Cake
090. Cook a Greek recipe from the cookbook Butterfly gave us
091. Make Pasta E Fagioli Soup
092. Have a "duck fart" with my dear husband and laugh about old times (completed 8/4/7)

Things to Buy
093. Buy an electric tea kettle and use it at work (purchased 7/4/7, haven't used yet)
094. Try (possibly buy) a Wacoal bra
095. Order personalized M&Ms for my goddaughter
096. Buy a new (to me) vehicle
097. Buy myself fresh flowers at least once a month
098. Buy a new (smaller) digital camera
099. Buy and set up a wireless router
100. Get mattress topper for the guest bed (completed 8/9/7)
101. Purchase a natural light desk lamp (completed 9/12/7 - one for home and one for work)

Household Chores

Things I take care of around the house
Make the bed almost every day. (Sugar Pop is off on Mondays and sometimes sleeps in so sometimes he makes the bed on Monday.)
Pay bills
Reconcile bank accounts
Meal Planning
Make Grocery List
Grocery Shopping (occassionally Sugar Pop goes with me)
Majority of the house cleaning (However, if it gets bad enough Sugar Pop will do it. He will help if I am cleaning when he is home and is an excellent vacuumer).
Unload the dishwasher
Wash the clothes
Take clothes to the dry cleaners
Send birthday cards
Sweep the garage (Sugar Pop will do it if its gets really bad, but I try to do it weekly)

Things Sugar Pop takes care of around the house
Repairs
Gardening
Makes the coffee every night
Refills the humidifier
Checks the doors at night and sets the alarm

Things we both do
Take out the trash
Check the mail
Fill up our vehicles and get oil changes
Cook supper - We both participate in the process almost every night. Occasionally one of us will do the whole thing.
Clean up after supper - same as above
Ironing

Five Questions

Vickie is playing a game. Here are the five questions that she sent me:

If you were an animal, what would it be?
I've always liked cats - they are very indepedent, quiet, curious, flexible, but they can protect themselves and fend for themselves when they need to.

What is your favorite NAME of all time - could be a person, a product, a town - whatever and why.
Jesus - The Name Above All Names. The Name by which I am saved.

What is the one everyday thing - that needs doing at your house right now - that you just keep putting off?
I really need to water my house plants (which I will probably go do after I finish this).

What was your favorite thing about your first teacher?
I liked that she also played the organ at the church we attended, so I knew her outside of school.

Who is the current/living American/countryman of whom you are the proudest?
Father Frank Pavone with Priests for Life. He tirelessly works to promote the culture of life in our country, often times against very strong opposition.

Here are the instructions to continue:
1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."
2. I will respond by posting five questions on your blog. I get to pick the questions. (so you have to have the set up where I click on your name and it takes me to your blog).
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation andan offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed,you will ask them five questions.

Something is Brewing

There is something brewing inside of me. Like a big discovery about myself that I am about to make. Or maybe it is just a personal mission statement trying to get out. It is hard to explain the "feeling." Yesterday I was listening to a Maximum Impact Club CD and I had that feeling. I don't even know how to describe it...it is like a desire to make a list of the things I like, the personality traits I have, the qualities I would like to develop, the things that are important to me. And a long with that comes the urge to simplify things...perhaps that urge is to remove the clutter in my life so that I can "see" what those other things are. It's very fuzzy and like I said I don't know how to describe it.

Heavenly Father, help me with this feeling. I don't know what it is or what I need to do with it. I think it is your Holy Spirit prompting me to do something, but I don't know what it is. Please guide me and help me. I will listen for your voice. In Jesus Name I Pray. Amen.

Ten Questions

From Walking in the Light by Neil Anderson via the Life Lesson in my Devotional Bible

These are ten questions you'll want to ask yourself and pray about when you're faced with a decision. The first five are generic. They represent moral issues and godly wisdom that are normative for all times. The next five are questions that you need to ask when facing a change in direction. Let's take a look at what each question entails.

1. Have you prayed about it? We aren't supposed to ask God to bless our plans; we are supposed to ask God for His plans.
2. Is it consistent with the Word of God?
3. Can I do it and be a positive Christian witness?
4. Will the Lord be glorified? Am I seeking the glory of man or flory of God? Am I doing this to be noticed by man or am I seeking to please the Lord?
5. Am I acting responsibly? God doesn't bail us out of our irresponsibility. He will let us suffer the consequences of our sings and irresponsibly choices. But when we are faithful in little things, He will put is in charge of greater things.
6. Is it reasonable? God expects us to think. His guidance may transcend human reasoning, but it never excludes it.
7. Does a realistic opportunity exist? Closed doors are not meant to be knocked down. If you have a hopeless scheme let it go. If it isn't God's timing, wait. If a realistic opportunity exists, and all the other factors are in agreement, then take the plunge.
8. Are unbiased spiritually sensitive associates in agreement? Be careful not to consult only those who will agree with you. Give your advisors permission to ask hard questions. Don't be afraid of no answers. If it isn't God's will, don't you want to know before you make the mistake of acting impulsively?
9. Do I have a sanctified desire? Don't think that being in the will of God must always be an unpleasant task. The joy of the Lord should be our strength...Is this a desire to satisfy a lust of the flesh, or a Spirit-filled desire to see God's kingdom established and people helped?
10. Do I have peace about it? This is an inner peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but in Christ we have assurance of overcoming the world. Is the peace of God guarding your heart and your mind?

If you have been able to answer yes to all ten deciding factors, what are you waiting for?

40 Questions

Someone sent this to me in a myspace bulletin, so I thought I would answer these questions.
1. What do you want for your Birthday? It's too many months away to know.
2. Who will be your next kiss? Sugar Pop
3. When is the last time you went to the mall? I can't even remember.
4. Are you wearing socks right now? Yes.
5. When was the last time you went out of the state? Last summer, when we went to see Brooks & Dunn in OKC.
6. Have you been to the movies in the last 5 days? Yes. Sugar Pop and I went to see Wild Hogs
7. What was the last thing you had to drink? Water
8. What are you wearing right now? Black slacks, white tank, purple cardigan.
9. What was your last purchase? A Massage and it was FABULOUS!
10. Last food you ate? Vegetable soup
11. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone? Sugar Pop
12. Have you bought any clothing items in the last week? No.
13. Do you have a pet? Just step-dog.
14. What's the last sporting event you watched? The Super Bowl
15. What's the most played song on your iTunes? Coming up to Breathe by Mercy Me
16. If you could be anywhere right now, where would you be? At home, with the afternoon off work.
17. What is the last thing you purchased online? Stamps.
18. One thing you hate about yourself? I'm shy.
19. What's your favorite soup? Healthy Valley Garden Vegetable
20. Do you miss anyone? My mom & dad.
21. Last play you saw? I don't remember.
22. What are your plans for the day? Work...darn it!
23. Last person you msg'd? My niece.
24. Ever go to camp? Once in the 5th grade and I HATED it...I was a homebody even then.
25. Were you an honor roll student in school? Yes.
26. What do you know about the future? It's in the future.
27. Are you wearing any perfume or cologne? Yes.
28. Where are your best friends located? My husband is my best friend and he is at work right now.
29. Do you have a tan? No, but I'm using the Oil of Olay Quench stuff that gives you a little color.
30. How old do you want to be when you have kids? I'm not planning on having any, but I was 29 when I got my step-kids.
31. Who was the first person who made you cry? I have no clue, but I'm sure it was one of my siblings.
32. Do you have any tattoos or piercings? Just my ears.
32. Have you ever drank your pop ((coke)) from a straw? Yes.
33. How do you like your pop ((coke)) I don't drink it any more.
34. Do you like hot sauce? Yes.
35. Next time you'll take a shower? Tomorrow morning.
36. What's the last movie you saw at home? Nacho Libre (except I slept through most of it)
37. What is your mood? Fair...I'm a little peeved because I found out we don't get off work early on Good Friday.
38. Are you someone's best friend? Yes.
39. Have you ever been to Virginia? No.
40. What are you doing right now? Wondering why someone asked "Have you ever been to Virginia?" when they made up this questions.

Comparison to Successful Losers

Vicki had an interesting post today [yesterday by the time I finished this] and asked others to go to write their thoughts on this same topic. Here is mine:

"No Quick Fixes."
In the past I have tried so many different "diets." What I am doing now is a lifestyle change and there is nothing quick about a lifestyle change.

"Be Active."
I used to struggle with getting exercise in, but now it is just what I do. My goal is to get a minimum of 10 minutes on the treadmill a day (except Sunday which is my rest day). Some days it is a lot more than that - maybe an exercise video or going to the gym and using the elliptical or lifting weights. I also do some floor exercises [almost] every day - ab work, pushups, lunges, stretching. Nothing hard or heart pumping. It is just a little extra movement every day.

"Track Your Weight."
I weigh every day and record my weight in an excel spreadsheet that calculates a weekly average of my weight. I use that weekly number as my "official" weight. My goal range is 127-131. If my weekly number is a little high, I need to cut back until I'm back in the range. (Right now I am working on getting back in the range.)

"Enlist Support."
I am a lifetime WW member and I attend at least one meeting a month. Sugar Pop is good support most of the time because he cares about his health and weight, also. However, he is the only person who tempts me with trips to Braums for ice cream. I am also active on the WW Message Boards and post daily to a thread called "10 Cent Healthy Habit Challenge."

"Start Your Day With Breakfast."
I have always been a breakfast eater. My favorite is oatmeal made with milk and parched fruit or yogurt mixed with applesauce and fiber one cereal. Perhaps I should say those are my usual breakfasts. My favorite would be french toast, but that doesn't fit into my normal food plan. ;)

"Set Small Goals."
I'm good at this. Sometimes, my goal is to just make it through the day on plan.

"Find Motivation to Get Started."
I've always had plenty of motivation to get started and just haven't always had the motivation to keep going. I've been either dieting and gaining for years now. However, for the past few years I am really learning about maintenance and it is great. I love that when I do need to lose weight it is usually just 3-4 pounds not 15-20.

"Find Motivation to Keep Going"
I don't ever want to need to lost 20 pounds again. I want to be fit and healthy the rest of my life. That is my motivation to keep going.

"Set a Limit for Regaining Pounds."
This is where my weight range comes in. I like the weekly average because then I don't have so many worries about a high-sodium meal out and gaining a bunch of water weight. It will all even out in the average.

"Plan Ahead."
I am big into planning. I plan our meals for the week before I go to the store. I plan my meals for the day in the morning. I have a "travel journal" I use when I am going to be away from home. That has been a big help in maintaining my weight. Trips used to really through me off and lead to weight gain. Having a specific place to journal food, health, fitness, etc. for trips is great. I can look back and see what worked. I can write myself notes to read before the next trip.

"Figure on Plateaus."
Because I weigh every day on a scale that measures to .2 lbs, there is always a different number on the scale. I don't really feel like I have plateaus because I'm looking at the number every day. I do remember getting kind of stuck when I had 5 lbs to lose and I finally listened to the WW good health guideline to get healthy oils. I started making a salad dressing with olive oil and that helped me lose that last 5 pounds.

"Reward Yourself."
I love rewards. They are very motivating for me. My latest was to weigh less this past Monday than the Monday before. We were going out of town for the weekend and I was tempted to just eat anything and everything I wanted. So I set that goal and my reward was a new pair of Easy Spirit workout shoes. I met my goal and my new shoes arrived yesterday. :)

"Stick With It for the Long Haul."
Oh yes, I am definitely in this for life. I have truly made a lifestyle change and I know that I must continue it. I do not want to go back to the diet/gain lifestyle I had for so many years. It is great to know that all my clothes always fit (well, except for the one pair of capris that are a little snug right now - just a few more pounds and they will be comfortable again). I plan on always journalling my food and exercise, weighing daily and getting plenty of exercise. This healthy lifestyle makes me feel good and the longer I keep up my healthy habits the easier they become. I can't imagine going back to the days when I stopped for fast food almost every day for lunch, when I was getting candy bars and chips from the vending machine. I don't want to go back to those days. I felt like I was hungry all the time because my body wasn't getting any nourishment from those foods. I love the foods I eat now and I love exercising. Life is good. This journey has been worth it.

Three Ways

From Devotional Bible Life Lesson:

Which areas of your life are less than totally dependent on him? Write downthree ways you can pursue holiness before God and start practicing them.

I didn't catch the significance of this at first. The fact that it is Ash Wednesday and yesterday I was trying to come up with three things to "do" for Lent. The only thing I had come up with so far was giving up chocolate which I have had planned for some time. Here are my three ways:

1. No chocolate.
2. No television watching by myself. I don't want to make a big deal about not watching television, but I need to stop using it for company.
3. Pray for someone else. I have gotten selfish with my quiet time by just spending it reading my devotionals and praying for myself. I want to make a point to pray for someone else each day.

I need...

Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn't a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in. ~ Matthew 7:7-8 (The Message)

1. I need my computer fixed.
2. I need a new job.
3. Most of all I need YOU! I need you living in me, walking with me, guiding me, teaching me, making me more like You.

That's it...

Cheez-Its

I wanted to overeat Cheez-its yesterday afternoon at work. Instead, I made this list of reasons why I shouldn't:

1. I would miss the No Breakroom Food Habit
2. I would miss the No Flour Habit
3. I would overeat and then not want supper and we are going out with friends.
4. The scale would DEFINITELY be up tomorrow from the sodium.
5. A sick coworker probably sneezed on their hands and then reached in for some chips without washing up first.
6. The bag wasn't sealed last night so a mouse or roach probably got in there and crawled around.
7. Isaiah 55:2
8. Galatians 5:1
9. If hunger is not the problem, then food is not the answer.
10. I'm allergic to Cheezits - I break out in fat.

Traditions

No blog from my quiet time this morning. I am (or should I say God is) working on something but it is not complete.

How about a list?

Traditions
1. Working a Thomas Kincade puzzle every winter.
2. Eating chili on Halloween.
3. Watching Groundhog Day on Groundhog Day.
4. Shopping with my sister on Black Friday.
5. Having friends over and making balloon hats on New Year's Eve.
6. Buying an angel every year at Christmas time in memory of my mom.
7. No matter what I get my Godchildren for gifts, always including M&Ms with it.

There are probably more, but I can't think of them at the moment. I will probably come back and add to this later. What are your traditions?

Food!

Did you miss me this morning? I started a post during my quiet time, but it is going to make me think more and isn't ready for the "world" yet - if there is even anyone out there reading this. Anyway, I thought I would give you a list today.

Foods I Eat Almost Every Day
1 cup of coffee (half caf/half decaf) with 4 tablespoons powdered milk and a packet of Splenda
Braum's Yogurt
Motts Healthy Harvest Applesauce
Fiber One Cereal
Oatmeal (made with 1/2 cup old fashioned oats, 1 cup milk, and 1/2 cup "Just Blueberries, Just Strawberries, or Just Cherries" - put in a BIG bowl and microwave for 4 minutes, watch to make sure it doesn't boil over)
Fresh Fruit - since it is winter it is usually an apple or clementines
Health Valley 14 Garden Vegetable Soup with a can of chicken - sometimes with a little curry seasoning in it. Yum!
Ezekiel 4:9 Cinnamon Raisin Bread
Ezekiel 4:9 Sesame Bread (These are sprouted grain breads and contain no flour - look for them in the freezer section)
Carrots
Laughing Cow Cheese
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
String Cheese
14 gms of Smuckers Natural Peanut Butter with Honey
Grilled or Baked Chicken
A fresh salad (see picture here) with olive oil and vinegar dressing
Steamed veggies seasoned with Mrs. Dash Garlic & Herb Seasoning
1 glass of wine
SF/FF Chocolate Fudge Pudding made with Braums 1% Milk

I don't eat ALL those things everyday, but these are the foods that make up the majority of what I eat most of the time. These are also the things I miss the most when we are away from home.

Things I used to eat/drink a lot, but hardly ever have now
Cereal
Fast Food
Soda
Gum
Ice Cream
Fudgesicles
Packets of Hot Chocolate
Candy
White Flour

D's Quiz

D posted this quiz over on her blog and asked for other people to post their answers. Here are mine:

1. What type (make, model) of vehicle do you see yourself purchasing next?
Most likely a Toyota of some sort, but it's at least three years down the road, so I haven't thought to much about it.

2. Name a great product that you think everyone should know about.
The UPS Store. Well, at least the one we use because the people there are great. It is so nice to have a safe place to have packages delivered - no worries about them being left on the front porch when no one is home.

3. List three of your pet peeves.
* Photo Christmas cards with only the children instead of the whole family.
* How everytime I find a product I really like, it gets discontinued. This has happened SO many times!
* People using their cell phones in the movie theater.

4. What do you dislike the most about your job, or station in life?
You really don't want to start on my job, do you? Probably the things that causes most of my stress is having SEVEN bosses. Well, actually now, it is just six because my favorite one (the man who actually lives his Christian faith isn't one of my bosses any more.

5. What is a recent favourite treat of yours (food or non-food)?
The new Glade candles made with essential oils. They smell great!

6. If you could have a $500 shopping spree, what store would you like it to be at, and what would you buy?
An office supply store. I love office supplies and electronic gadgets. I'm just sure I could find all sorts of great things for $500.

7. What book are you reading right now?
Max Lucado Devotional Bible, My Utmost for His Highest, and A Year with C.S. Lewis

8. What features would your 'dream house' have?
Hmmm...since I'm dreaming and I don't have to worry about affording it or cleaning it -- a home gym, a swimming pool, a hot tub, a media room, a separate guest house for company, a large well-lit kitchen designed for my personal chef...BIG DREAMS, Huh? Actually, I am quite content in my current house. It needs a little updating in the kitchen and I wish I had a powder bath of my little office, but all in all it's a good place to live.

9. Where would you like to be at this time next year?
Getting ready to celebrate being at my new job for a year. (Of course, I haven't been offered a new job yet, but hopefully SOON!)

10. Name something new that you'd like to try in 2007.
A heart rate monitor. I've been wanting one for months now and sometime soon I will get one.